From Grand Final Heartbreak to Brisbane Opportunity
Swansea-born rugby league player Grant Anderson is preparing for a fresh start with the Brisbane Broncos, just months after experiencing grand final heartbreak with his former club Melbourne Storm. The 26-year-old versatile back has opened up about his decision to trade one grand final team for another, expressing both gratitude for his time in Melbourne and excitement for his new chapter in Queensland.
The Tough Decision to Leave Melbourne
Anderson's move to Brisbane represents one of the rare instances in rugby league history where a player has switched between clubs immediately after they faced each other in a grand final. The Central Newcastle junior revealed that his decision was made twelve months ago, following discussions with several clubs including the Broncos.
"We tried to sort out a deal with Melbourne, and a few other clubs came and had a chat in November last year," Anderson told the Newcastle Herald during a week's break back home. "The Broncos came along and I had a chat to 'Madge' in the off-season last year and I liked what he was about."
The player emphasized that he gave Melbourne every opportunity to retain him, but circumstances ultimately led him to pursue a two-year deal with the Broncos. Despite Melbourne's consistent success, including their 2024 grand final appearance, Anderson struggled to secure a permanent spot in the starting lineup.
Missed Opportunities and New Beginnings
One of the most challenging aspects of Anderson's final season with Melbourne was being named 18th man for the 2024 grand final, despite having played 24 games throughout the year. The disappointment was particularly acute given he had also missed selection in the previous year's decider.
"It's everything you could imagine," Anderson said of the grand final omission. "But once you're so close with all the boys that took the field that night, and you're all competing for the same spots week-in, week-out, obviously it wasn't my time the last two years."
Anderson's Melbourne career began modestly with a train-and-trial deal that unexpectedly stretched into four years. He made a memorable two-try debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2022 and ultimately recorded 48 NRL appearances with 23 tries, though he humorously noted that official statistics incorrectly credit him with already reaching the 50-game milestone.
Family Connections and Brisbane Prospects
The off-season has been significant for Anderson beyond his club transfer, having recently married his long-term partner Tegan Wells. His younger brother Kain is building his own career with the Canberra Raiders, joining other Hunter products Zac Hosking, Hudson Young and Jake Clydsdale in the nation's capital.
At Brisbane, Anderson will reunite with former teammate Ben Talty from Denman, alongside Woodberry product Payne Haas. The Broncos squad also features established stars like Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt, and Reece Walsh, providing Anderson with what he describes as "a whole lot of strike weapons in the roster."
Reflecting on his development in Melbourne, Anderson said: "I learnt a lot. The first year was a bit crazy and then the second year I learnt a lot about myself and how to apply myself as a professional NRL player. I feel like the past two years, I've really started to find the way I want to play my best footy."
Despite the disappointment of missing grand final glory, Anderson takes pride in having played the most games of his career in 2025, missing only round one and the final two matches of the season. He now looks forward to carrying that momentum into his Brisbane career, eager to establish himself in a back-line that could see opportunities with Gehamat Shibasaki and Jesse Arthurs reportedly attracting interest from the new Perth Bears franchise.
